Sitting Bull Removed from Tunnel

Activists from the Combe Haven Defenders set up a protest camp, dubbed Base Camp, on December 21, close to Adam’s Farm in Crowhurst, occupying tunnels in an attempt to disrupt construction of the £94 million Bexhill-Hastings Link Road.

Security guards and bailiffs, as well as police, started moving in just before 8am on Wednesday. The eviction began around 8.15am with more than 30 bailiffs on site, according to the Combe Haven Defenders’ blog.

According to Patrick Nicholson, a spokesman for Combe Haven Defenders, two protestors were removed from a treehouse at the camp and arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass by police on Wednesday afternoon.

Police and security staff continued with the eviction of Base Camp and a nearby camp, dubbed Decoy Camp, yesterday morning (Thursday). Remaining activists were still occupying tunnels and treehouses. Seasoned activist Simon Sitting Bull was removed yesterday afternoon from a tunnel.

A police spokesman said three women were arrested on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

Two of the arrested women, aged 29 and 33, are from London. The third one detained was aged 58. Two men, aged 31 and 43 respectively, were also arrested on Wednesday and were still in police awaiting interview as the Observer went to press. The total number of arrests now stands at 17.

This week’s evictions come as lawyers for Bexhill-based anti-link road group Bexill Link Road Resistance (BLINKRR) announced they are seeking an injunction to halt the road based on a claim they have evidence that Crowhurst and Combe Haven Valley is the true site of the Battle of Hastings and Norman landing.

Councillor Peter Jones, leader of East Sussex County Council, believes the link road will enable the building of up to 2,000 new homes, bring in 50,000 sqm of business park space and create more than 3,000 jobs, as well as bring economic benefits worth £1 billion.